Education
A native of Wipperfürth, Rhine Province, Crass studied with Gerda Heuer in Wiesbaden and with Professor Clemens Glettenberg at the Hochschule für Musik in Kölane
music educator singer opera singer
A native of Wipperfürth, Rhine Province, Crass studied with Gerda Heuer in Wiesbaden and with Professor Clemens Glettenberg at the Hochschule für Musik in Kölane
In 1954, he made his debut at the municipal theater in Krefeld. From 1956 he sang at the Landestheater Hannover. Crass established a reputation as a Wagnerian early in his career, appearing at the Bayreuth Festival between 1954 and 1973.
In addition to his work as a concert and oratorio singer, he became known for singing works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Crass ended his career abruptly due to hearing trouble in 1981. After that he devoted himself to coaching younger singers.
He died in Rüsselsheim, aged 84. The Kammersänger left recordings as Heinrich der Vogler in Lohengrin (opposite Anja Silja"s Elsa), Sarastro in The Magic Flute (opposite Fritz Wunderlich and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau), the Sprecher and Second Armed Manitoba in Otto Klemperer"s famous recording of The Magic Flute, the Commendatore in Don Giovanni, the title role in Der fliegende Holländer, Gurnemanz in Parsifal.
Also as baritone soloist in the Brahms Requiem and Bach"s Christmas Oratorio, and as bass soloist in the Mozart Requiem.
He made guest appearances throughout Germany, and was a regular member of the Köln Opera from 1962 until 1964.